Taxidermy 



12 



T Arthur George Rueckert (1891-1948, 

 FM 1923-1948), right, confers with Wil- 

 fred H. Osgood, former chief curator of 

 Zoology, about construction of walrus 

 group. A man of many talents, Rueck- 

 ert began his career at Field Museum 

 as taxidermist-preparator for the N. W. 

 Harris Extension, working on portable 

 exhibits. Later he painted diorama 

 backgrounds, particularly after the 

 death of artist Charles Abel Corwin, in 

 1938. Rueckert also accompanied 

 several expeditions as collector, not- 

 ably the Second Rawson-MacMillan 

 Sub-Arctic Expedition of 1927-28. zb33os 



Arthur G. Rueckert (left) and C. John 

 Albrecht (1891-1978. FM1926-1945). 

 also a taxidermist. Albrecht's most not- 

 able achievement was perhaps the 

 African Water Hole, in the African 

 Mammals Hall. At the time of its com- 

 pletion (1932), it was believed to be the 

 largest grouping of mounted animals in 

 existence; six species and twenty- 

 three animals are in the group. 

 Albrecht was also accomplished as 

 sculptor, photographer, and lecturer, 

 and he participated in 32 collecting ex- 

 peditions or field trips. Among his 

 sculptures is that of Bushman, the 

 gorilla, now on view at the Adventurer's 

 Club in Chicago. Z83W6 



